INTRODUCTION
The 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) sets out the framework within which the humanitarian community will respond to large-scale humanitarian and protection needs in Syria throughout 2017 on the basis of the prioritization undertaken across and within sectors. The HRP, based on humanitarian assessment data, also presents urgent funding requirements to meet deepening needs. It is anchored by three strategic objectives: saving lives and alleviating suffering, enhancing protection and building resilience. These objectives are interlinked, reflecting the fact that needs are intertwined.
Protection and early recovery are mainstreamed across the operation, adding coherence to the humanitarian response. Progress made towards attaining one objective is often dependent upon incremental steps towards achieving another. Achieving these objectives is contingent upon the availability of sufficient resources and the existence of an enabling operational environment. Humanitarian activities under the HRP are coordinated at hub level and benefit from the Whole of Syria (WoS) approach.
The HRP was developed by the humanitarian community working in Syria, under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria (HC) and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis (RHC) and with support from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The HRP was consulted with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and collectively prepared by all partners. The final document was endorsed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), in line with General Assembly (GA) resolution 46/182. Affected people were consulted during the needs identification and planning processes.
The Government of Syria and the UN acknowledge that this is a technical and operational document and that it should not be interpreted as a political document. While the UN and Government of Syria may have differences in interpretation of certain issues, the primary objective of the document remains to support the timely and adequate delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need in accordance with international law, including A/RES/46/182, and the UN Charter.
In accordance with international law, the United Nations renews its commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance to people affected by the crisis in Syria, to implement the response plan with full respect to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 46/182. The United Nations is committed to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014), and 2258 (2015). The UN and its partners will also continue to advocate for greater respect for international law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law with relevant stakeholders.
Humanitarian organizations working under this plan: United Nations (UN) agencies, funds and programmes, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and humanitarian international and national Non-Government Organizations (NGOs),2 remain committed to providing needs-based humanitarian assistance, in accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and to providing assistance without discrimination to people in need. In this capacity they are protected under international law.
Organizations participating in the HRP acknowledge that it is first through the efforts of the Syrian people, through state institutions at both central and local level, and civil society that the basic needs of the affected population are met. Partners also recognize that, under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the State has the primary role and responsibility for the provision of assistance, protection, and security of those affected by the crisis.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.